Collapsible stand



July 28, 1959 G. M. ELLMAN COLLAPSIBLE STAND Filed June 1l, 1958 :Ill

lill Z United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE STAND Gilbert M. Ellman,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Aristo-Craft Products, Chicago, Ill., apartnership Application .lune 11, 1958, Serial No. 741,411 7 Claims.(Cl. 45-121) This invention relates to collapsible stands or rests forsupporting music sheets, papers, [books and the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improvedstand of the type described.

Another object is to provide a new and improved music stand of lightweight materials which may bereadily collapsed into a compact unitconvenient for carrying and storage and which may be easily unfolded foruse as a sturdy support.

A more specific object is to provide a new and improved music stand ofthe type described including a collapsible leg structure and a foldablerest structure, the latter having one portion permanently joined to theleg structure and another portion connectalble to the leg structure forholding the stand in an upright unfolded condition.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen forJ illustration isintended primarily for use by musicians in Ibands or orchestras forsupporting music sheets in front of the seated musician; it isparticularly adapted for such use because it is readily collapsible intoa compact unit convenient for carrying by hand or other transportationduring movement from place to place. However, it will be understood theutility is not limited to that described. i

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the stand disposed in an unfoldedupright position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the stand as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the stand in collapsed condition;and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the stand as illustrated in Fig. 3.i

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, in a preferred embodiment,a stand incorporating the principles of the present invention includes acollapsible leg structure generally ydesignated and a foldable reststructure generally designated 11. The leg structure 10 comprises aiirst or inner inverted V-shaped leg iframe 131 including a pair ofseparate legs 14 and 15 having lower ends spaced rather widely apart andadapted to rest on the door and having upper ends joined as at 16 at theapex of the frame. If desired, the lower ends of legs 14 and 15 may beprovided with suitable rubber-like shoes as at 17. A second or outerV-shaped leg frame 18 has separate legs 19 and 20 including upper endswhich are rather widely spaced apart and lower ends joined as at 21 andadapted to rest on the floor.

Intermediate portions of the leg frames 13 and18 are pivotallyinterconnected as by having each leg of the outer frame 18 pivoted onone leg of the` frame 13:. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, legs19 and 20 of the outer frame 18 are pivotally connected respectively tothe legs 14 and 15 of the inner frame 13 as Iby pivot pins 23 which maytake the form of bolts, screws or rivets. At the pivots 23, legs 19 and20 of the outer frame 18 pass outwardly of the legs 14 and 15 of theinner frame 13.

If desired, the pins 23 may be removably mounted, and the respectivelegs of the two frames may be provided with a series of holes whichenable an adjustment of the pivotal interconnection to vary theeffective height of the stand. Preferably, the outer frame 18 isprovided with a plate or disc as illustrated at 25 suitably secured tothe frame legs as at 26 and providing a support for an emblem or otherindicia for identifying a particular band or orchestra.

The rest structure 11 is comprised of two portions, a first portion inthe form of an elongated plate 27 secured adja-cent opposite ends to theupper ends of the legs 19 and 20 of frame 1S as at 28. As illustrated,the second rest portion comprises a plate 30 of a length comparable tothat of the plate 27 and of a substantial width in a front to reardirection as will be apparent on viewing the drawings. The second restportion 30 is pivoted to the lower edge `of the rst rest portion 27 asby a pair of hinges seen at 31. Adjacent its upper edge, the restportion 30 has a centrally located opening 33 therethrough adapted totit over the upper end of the inner leg frame 13 when the stand is inthe upright unfolded position illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

The opening 33 provides the second rest portion 30 with a hook-likemeans adapted to latch over the projecting end 16 of the frame 13 forsecurely retaining the stand in the upright position of Figs. l and 2.In this position, as seen in Fig. 2, the frames 13 and 18 are inclinedfrom the vertical and cross each other at the pivotal interconnection23, so that the leg frames provide a three point support at 17, 17 and21. ln this position of the stand, the rst rest portion 27, of course,lies substantially in the plane of the outer frame 18 to which it isattached, and the second rest portion 30 extends upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the lower edge of rest portion 27 toward the upper end of the legframe 13.

. Due to the inherent weight of the stand, it will .-be apparent thatthe lower ends of the leg frames cannot pivot toward each other, and dueto the latching of the rest portion 30 over the upper end of leg frame13, the frames are prevented from pivoting in the opposite direction, sothat the stand is rigidly disposed in the position illustrated toprovide a sturdy support for music sheets, and the like.

The stand is readily collapsible from the position illustrated in Figs.l and 2 to the compactly folded position of Figs. 3 and 4. Collapseofthe structure is effected by simultaneously pulling upwardly on theupper rest portion Si] while pivoting this portion in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2 to release the rest portion 30 from theupper end of frame 13. After this release, the outer frame 18 rnayeasily ibe pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2to dispose the outer frame 18 in the plane of the inner frame 13 in themanner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, with the inner frame nested withinthe outer frame 13. Such movement disposes the rest portion 27 againstlower portions of legs 14 and 15 of the inner frame 13, and the upperrest portion 30 may be pivoted to lie against the leg portions` of bothframes as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Preferably, the disc or plate 25 isprovided with a latch or other fastening means illustrated at 3S,pivoted at 36 and adapted to releasably latch over the edge of restportion 30 to securely retain the stand in the collapsed positionillustrated. Such latch means securely holds all the parts of the standin the position shown so that `the stand may be gripped by `handy as atthe portions 16 or 21 for carrying.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the leg frames 13 and 1S arecomprised of tubular aluminum or similar lightweight materials, and therest portions 27 and 36 may be comprised of light-weight metal materialor of pressed berboard or similar materials so' that the entire weightof the stand is negligible and readily portable.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim; Y Y

1. A collapsible stand, comprising: an inner frame having a lower endadapted to rest on the floor, a hollow outer frame having a lower endadapted to rest on the oor and an intermediate portion pivotallyconnected to an intermediate portion of the inner frame, a restincluding a front portion secured to the upper end of one framesubstantially parallel thereto and a rear portion hinged on the loweredge of the front portion, and releasable means for detachablyconnecting the upper rear end of the rear portion to the upper end ofthe other frame' to releasably retain the stand in upright position withthe frames inclined from the vertical and crossing at their pivotalinterconnection, and with said rear rest portion inclined upwardly andrearwardly from the front rest portion so that the latter forms aretaining ledge for the former.

2. A collapsible stand, comprising: an inner frame having a lower endadapted to rest on the iioor, a hollow outer frame having a lower endadapted to rest on the oor and an intermediate portion pivotallyconnected to lan intermediate portion of the inner frame for swingingmovement thereon into the plane of the inner frame, a rest including afront portion secured to the upper end of the outer frame substantiallyparallel thereto and a rear portion hinged on the lower edge of thefront portion,

releasable means for detachably connecting the upper end of the r'earportion to the upper end of the inner frame to releasably retain thestand in upright position with the frames inclined from the vertical andcrossing at their pivotal interconnection, and with said rear restportion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front rest portiontoward the inner frame so that the front portion forms a retaining ledgefor the rear portion, release of said releasable connecting meansenabling pivotal movement of the outer frame in a direction to move theupper end downwardly and the lower end upwardly to position the outerframe in the plane of the inner frame and position the rear rest portionin the plane of the front rest portion, and latch means for releasablysecuring the frames and rest portions in the collapsed condition lastdescribed.

3. A collapsible stand, comprising: a irst pair of legs rigidlyconnected together and having lower ends spaced apart and adapted torest on the floor, a second pair of legs rigidly connected together, andhaving lower ends adapted to rest on the floor, means pivotallyconnecting each leg of one pair to one leg of the other pair, a restincluding a front portion secured to one pair of legs above the pivotalinterconnection of the legs generally parallel thereto and a rearportion pivoted to the front portion, and means for detachablyconnecting said rear portion to the other pair of legs above saidpivotal interconnection to retain the stand in upright position with thepairs of legs inclined from the vertical and crossing at said pivotalinterconnection, and with said rear rest portion inclined rearwardly andupwardly from the front rest portion to said other legs so that thefront rest portion forms a retaining ledge for the rear rest portion.

4.V A collapsible stand, comprising: a rst leg frame including a pair oflegs having upper ends rigidly joined and lower ends spaced apart andadapted to rest on the floor, a second leg frame including a pair oflegs having lower ends rigidly joined and adapted to rest on the floor,means pivotally connecting intermediate portions of the frames, a Vrestincluding a plate pivoted on the upper leg portions of the second frameand having an opening there- 4 through adjacent its upper edge to titover the upper ends of the legs of the first frame to retain the standin upright position with the frames inclined from the vertical andcrossing at the pivotal interconnection of the frames, and with saidplate inclined rearwardly and upwardly to the iirst frame.

5. A collapsible music stand, comprising: an outer V-shaped frame, aninner inverted V-shaped frame, means pivotally interconnectingintermediate portions of the frames with the legs of the outer frameoutwardly of the legs of the inner frame at the pivotal interconnection,a rest including a lirst plate secured to upper ends of the outer frameand a second plate hinged to the first plate, said second plate havingan opening therethrough adjacent its upper edge to it over the apex ofthe inner frame to retain the stand in upright position with the framesinclined and crossing at the pivotal interconnection, release of thesecond plate from said inner frame enabling swinging movement of theouter frame into the plane of the inner frame, and a latch forreleasably securing the outer frame to the second plate to retain thestand in collapsed condition.

6. A collapsible stand, comprising: an outer V-shaped frame, an'innerV-shaped frame, means pivotally interconnecting intermediate portions ofthe frames with the legs of the outer frame outwardly of the legs of theinner frame at the pivotal interconnection so that the frames areswingable relative to each other between a collapsed condition with theinner frame nested in the outer frame in a common plane therewith and anunfolded condition with the frames inclined from the vertical andcrossing at the pivotal interconnection and with one frame inverted, arest comprising a plate having one edge pivotally connected to the upperend of one frame when the frames are unfolded, and means for detachablyconnecting the opposite edge of said plate to the upper end of the otherframe to retain the frames in the unfolded condition, release of saidconnecting means enabling collapse of the frames and movement of saidplate to a position parallel and adjacent the frames for storage.

7. A collapsible music stand, comprising: an outer V- shaped frame, aninner inverted V-shaped frame, means pivotally interconnectingintermediate portions of the frames with the legs of the outer frameoutwardly of the legs of the inner frame at the pivotal interconnection,a rest including a front plate secured to upper ends of the outer framegenerally parallel thereto and a rear plate hinged to the lower edge ofthe front plate, said rear plate having an opening therethrough adjacentits upper edge to fit over the apex of the inner frame to retain thestand in upright position with the frames inclined and crossing at thepivotal interconnection and with the rear Vplate inclined upwardly andrearwardly from the front plate, release of the rear plate from saidinner frame enabling swinging movement of the outer frame into the planeof the inner frame and said rear plate into the plane of the frontplate, and latch means for releasably securing the frames and plates inthe collapsed condition last described.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS183,957 Mersick 'Oct. 3l, 1876 346,027 Decker July 20, 1886 674,062Jones May 14, 1901 1,289,245 Otte Dec. 31, 1918 1,975,857 vMcKenney Oct.9, 1934 1,994,364 King Mar. 12, 1935 2,675,286 Derman Apr. 13, 1954

